Atlanta United pulled off a dramatic 2-1 victory over Inter Miami in the MLS playoffs on Saturday, delivering a blow to Lionel Messi’s quest for an MLS Cup. Portuguese winger Xande Silva sealed the win with a spectacular stoppage-time strike in front of 68,455 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The victory levels the best-of-three series at 1-1, setting up a decisive Game 3 in Miami next Saturday.##NAJAVA_MECA_8466271##Miami, the series’ top seed and 2-1 winners in Game 1, seemed to be on course for a win after Paraguay’s David Martinez opened the scoring in the 40th minute. Former US goalkeeper Brad Guzan mishandled a clearance, giving Federico Redondo an easy chance to set up Martinez for an empty-net finish.Martinez might have got the simplest goal of all time :)Atlanta United 0 Inter Miami 1What a sneaky error by Gozen 🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/TJJTHTtd4r— Messi FC World (@MessiFCWorld) November 2, 2024 But Atlanta came out swinging in the second half, determined to keep their season alive. They equalized in the 58th minute when Derrick Williams headed home a powerful goal. Both teams traded chances as the game neared its conclusion, with Georgia’s Saba Lobjanidze nearly scoring for Atlanta in the 89th minute, only for Miami’s Drake Callender to tip his shot onto the post.With the game seemingly headed for a penalty shootout, Atlanta mounted one final attack. Aleksey Miranchuk found Silva, who expertly fired the ball into the top corner, securing the win.”Words can’t describe it; they’re such a resilient group,” said Atlanta coach Rob Valentino. “I told the team it would take everyone, and then a substitute comes on and wins it for us.”Silva wins it for Atlanta United to force a game 3 vs Inter Miami! 😤pic.twitter.com/i3nxSXJrCU— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) November 3, 2024 Elsewhere in the MLS playoffs, New York City FC defeated FC Cincinnati 3-1 to force a Game 3 in their first-round series. New York took the lead in the 22nd minute when Costa Rican Alonso Martinez played a clever one-two with Mitja Ilenic and finished low past Cincinnati’s Roman Celentano. Brazilian defender Thiago Martins extended New York’s lead just before halftime, heading in from a free-kick.Cincinnati responded in the 65th minute with a brilliant solo goal by Argentine Luca Orellano, who nutmegged his defender and blasted a shot into the top corner. Cincinnati kept pressing, with Zimbabwean Teenage Hadebe coming close in the 80th minute but firing straight at New York keeper Matt Freese.In stoppage time, New York put the game to bed as Santiago Rodriguez won a penalty and converted it with a cheeky panenka. The series will conclude with Game 3 in Cincinnati next Saturday.Atlanta United’s stoppage-time winner forced a Game 3 in their playoff series with Inter Miami. 🍿Will Lionel Messi and co. keep their MLS Cup hopes alive by taking the decider? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/7icR778V0I— 90min (@90min_Football) November 3, 2024
